Below Average CostVery SafeChugach School District
Whittier, Alaska aerial view 2026 · Quintin Soloviev / CC BY 4.0Whittier - DPLA - aa715bfd4122309fc09aaa5c38b8d93e · Department of Agriculture. Forest Service. Region 6 (Pacific Northwest Region). 1966 / Public domainBack to Whittier...Sun is out...Water is Rough (2571032531) · Barbara Ann Spengler from Arizona & Florida, USA / CC BY 2.0Alaska CRC · MrHudson at English Wikipedia / CC BY 2.0
Whittier is a small town of 377 in Alaska, with a median household income of $48,828
and a 13.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Whittier stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Whittier is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Whittier city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 93.5
Whittier's overall cost of living index is 93.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Whittier costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Whittier, AK
National Avg
Median Home Value
$79,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$957
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
27.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$48,828
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Whittier's violent crime rate is 108.7 per 100,000 residents
— 71% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
108.7 /100k
Property Crime
141.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Whittier is served primarily by Chugach School District.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 34.6:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Whittier, AK
National Avg
School District
Chugach School District
—
Elementary Schools
N/A
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
34.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
20.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Whittier sees average highs of 32.6°F in January
and 63.4°F in July,
with 197.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 268.2 inches of snow per year.
Whittier's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Whittier roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $79,500 and median rent is $957/month.
Whittier's violent crime rate is 108.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 141.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Whittier are operated by Chugach School District.
The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 34.6:1. 20.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Whittier, AK has a population of 377, a median household income of $48,828, and an unemployment rate of 13.0%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Whittier averages 32.6°F in January and 63.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 197.3 inches
with about 268.2 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Whittier, AK is covered by 1 ZIP code: 99693.
The population of Whittier, Alaska is 377 with a median age of 36.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Whittier: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $79,500, median household income $48,828, crime index 20 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Whittier side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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